Still, that “did I just rinse or actually clean?” feeling is real.
That’s exactly it. I remember the first week I tried a water flosser—felt like I was mostly just giving my teeth a bath and hoping for the best. I’ve got a permanent retainer on the bottom, and honestly, string floss was impossible. The water flosser is way less hassle, but I do sometimes wonder if it’s just the blast of water making things *feel* cleaner.
What helped me was running a little test: I used string floss right after the water flosser a couple times. Sometimes there was still a bit left behind, but way less than before. I think it’s pretty effective as long as you really trace the gumline and don’t rush. It’s definitely messier (my mirror is always splattered), but my gums bleed way less now, so that’s something.
And about that “paranoid” feeling—I honestly think it’s just being careful, not paranoid. Dental stuff is weirdly personal and everyone’s got their own rhythm for feeling clean. If it works for you, that’s what matters.
I get what you mean about the water flosser feeling like a shortcut. I switched to one mainly because flossing around my bridge was just too much hassle and I couldn’t justify spending more on fancy tools. It’s not perfect, but my checkups have been fine since. Has anyone tried those cheap interdental brushes instead? I’m curious if they actually work or just end up costing more in the long run.
I’ve tried the cheap interdental brushes—picked up a multipack from the supermarket thinking it’d be a frugal win. Honestly, they do get in between teeth better than floss for me, especially around my crowns. But I go through them fast, and sometimes the bristles bend out of shape after just a couple uses. For the price, it’s not terrible, but I do wonder if I end up spending about the same as I would on a water flosser over time. Still, less fiddly than string floss in tight spots.
“But I go through them fast, and sometimes the bristles bend out of shape after just a couple uses.”
Totally get this—my cheapies end up looking like tiny scarecrows after a week. I did a cost tally once and, yeah, the water flosser starts to look less like a splurge and more like an investment if you’re using two brushes a day. But honestly, nothing beats poking out that stubborn popcorn kernel with an interdental brush. Water flossers never quite hit that “ahhh” spot for me… yet.
My kid’s orthodontist actually suggested switching to the “soft” bristle brushes for her braces, and I swear they flatten out twice as fast as the regular ones. I used to think she was just being rough, but then I tried one myself and, yeah, it was toast after a week. I’ve started buying the bulk packs, but it still feels like we’re just tossing money in the trash.
She tried a water flosser for a bit (mostly because she thought it looked cool), but honestly, it didn’t really get all the gunk out from around her brackets. We’re back to those little interdental brushes—she calls them “tooth swords”—and they seem to do the trick for stuck food. Not as satisfying as yanking out a popcorn kernel with a pick, but better than nothing.
I get what you mean about the cost adding up. Between replacing brushes and all the extras for braces, it’s almost like a subscription service at this point. But hey, at least her morning breath has improved since we got more serious about all this… small victories, right?
